Out with the old, in with the new! High-speed racing has evolved with a new form of racing called NEX Race! Using a new energy called HyPER, race cars now have built-in AI and can reach speeds that are groundbreaking compared to cars that don’t use HyPER. Also, those who participate are no longer just facing other human racers, but will now race alongside AI and aim to exceed speeds of 300 mph! While the “King” and “Queen” dominate this new kind of circuit, a teenage recruit is given the chance to do all she can to win against these pros and bring a new thrill to watchers of all ages!

This anime was not on my radar but it seemed like pretty and cool girls doing awesome and exciting racing, so I decided to give it a try, and it was interesting! I have no experience watching high-speed racing in person or on TV, so I can’t speak for how accurate the anime was in that regard, but I can say I watched the entire episode very intently! I was extremely intrigued by the idea that some of the pros in this new kind of racing are using AI systems to drive race cars! It added a different thrill to the race, as well as a way to see some of the racers “cheat” the system, because since an AI is programmed to stay “x” distance away for safety, what’s to stop the human from throttling it and pulling forward? I enjoyed the characters who were introduced, but I was very disappointed that the heroine didn’t appear until the end. We don’t learn anything about her except that she was a ballerina and now is a new competing racer. The animation was very different than I was expecting, but I don’t think it was bad. The racing itself was captured really well and thought the commentators did a good job of capturing the intensity, the danger, and the thrill of the racing itself. I don’t know if I would say this will be a must-watch for me this season, but I am curious enough that I want to see the second episode, because I feel like we’re going to be getting to the best part: a rookie possibly dethroning the “King”! If you don’t mind CGI animation, enjoy a large female cast, and want some high-speed racing, this could be an anime to try this season!

HIGHSPEED Étolie is streaming on Crunchyroll.

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Laura A. Grace

Growing up, Laura A. Grace dreamed of being a Sailor Scout and searching for the seven dragon balls so she could make a wish. Those dreams have continued to inspire her as co-founder and co-organizer of the devotional Finding God in Anime as well as a writer and YouTuber for Beneath the Tangles, a website that blends discussion of anime and Christianity. When she’s not busy filming YouTube videos to convince others to read her favorite manga titles, you can find her playing video games with her husband and three children. Come see what manga she is reading and recommending on her YouTube channel, Laura A. Grace!

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